Denise Johnson

I am a massive stroke survivor, and my journey has been nothing short of a miracle. Years ago, I suffered a massive stroke on the left side of my brain that killed me for a few moments. When I woke up, I was unable to speak or move, stuck in my place for three days until someone knocked on my door. I crawled out, managed to get on a bus, and made it to my appointment, where it was immediately clear I couldn’t speak, walk, or write. They called an ambulance, and after extensive testing, doctors told me I was a walking miracle—I shouldn’t have survived after going three days without care. They wanted to study me, but I was too drained. I spent a week in the hospital before I could leave, and then I had to teach myself to talk, walk, and write all over again, just like a five-year-old. At the time of my stroke, I was also raising a child. I sacrificed my dreams to put my child first, working multiple jobs and pushing through my recovery so I could provide for her. Now, my child is grown and has left the nest, and for the first time, I can focus on myself and my dreams for the future. Despite these challenges, I started working as a community advocate, making my community better and caring for others as a Direct Support Professional. I do this on my own, without government assistance, and no one takes care of me despite my disability. I have always been independent, working since I was 14 years old, and I believe that if I can get help with start-up funding for my own business, I won’t have to worry about depending on others or government benefits in the future. My health issues from my stroke make it even more important to build something sustainable for myself. I want to keep working, but I don’t want to drain myself to the point of more health problems. It’s hard to ask for help when you’re taught to survive on your own, but escaping death opened my eyes. I realized I need to share my testimony to help others and build a legacy, so they know it’s not the end of their chapter. I truly want to be the first person in my family to own a business and be successful. My goal is to build generational wealth for my future and to help people who have been through what I went through. The funds I raise here will go directly to paying a company that can help me bring my app idea to life. With your support, I’ll have the chance to turn my dream into reality and create a better future for myself, my family, and others who need hope. I’m reaching out to ask for your help. Any donation, big or small, will make a difference and bring me one step closer to launching my app. Thank you for believing in me and supporting my journey toward a brighter tomorrow.